Hayden Fields catches the ball during practice at Memorial Field in Coeur d’Alene. John “Risky” Boltz/Sentinel
The North Idaho College softball team went 1-1 in its doubleheader against the Skagit Valley College Cardinals on March 23 at Memorial Field in Coeur d’Alene.
The bats were busy in game one of the doubleheader, and when the dust settled, Skagit Valley won 13-12.
Both teams combined for 24 hits, including five extra base hits. The game was back-and-forth headed into the sixth, with six lead changes.
Skagit Valley got an early start in the first inning up 5-0.
NIC had two-run rallies in the first and second innings.
In the first inning, NIC scored on an RBI by Kylene Hatton, bringing in Marissa Tarin. NIC’s Samantha Luna scored on a steal and Hatton had an RBI single in the second inning.
Skagit Valley answered back in the second inning with two more runs and matched that in the fourth inning.
NIC shut down Skagit Valley completely in the third inning and put five more runs on the scoreboard, taking advantage of errors by Skagit. It gave NIC its first lead 9-7.
NIC was shut out of the fourth inning, but answered back with three runs in the fifth, making it 12-9 NIC.
A strong sixth inning brought four more runs from Skagit Valley, leading 13-12.
Skagit Valley was sparked by Mahina Turner and Holly Hawkins, who teamed up for five hits and seven RBIs. Skagit scored on a three-run home run by Holly Hawkins off NIC’s pitcher Tori Almos.
Almos took the loss for NIC. She allowed six runs in five innings and struck out eight.
NIC didn’t take any chances with their second shot at Skagit Valley, winning 15-7 in five innings.
After a one-run start from Skagit Valley in the first inning, NIC followed up with six runs. NIC didn’t let up, scoring two more runs in the second inning and one in the third, to make it 8-1.
Skagit Valley closed the gap with five runs to make the score 9-6 in the fourth inning.
NIC answered right back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring on an error by Skagit Valley to get the inning started. NIC put up three more runs in the fourth to go up 13-6.
Going into the fifth inning, Skagit Valley had its work cut out for it. It scored one run and turned it over to NIC, which scored another two runs to end the game early due to the eight-run rule.
NIC (27-17, 22-14) plays Scenic West Athletic Conference opponent Western Nevada College in a four-game set Friday and Saturday in Carson City, Nev.